Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 26 replies
  • Subscribers 13 subscribers
  • Views 2186 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) - Working at Home or Remote Locations - Request for Help

John Beirne

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) - Working at Home or From Remote Locations



Not withstanding the fact that there is no legal requirement to undertake Portable Appliance Testing, there is a myriad of regulations which a Duty Holder/organisation is to adhere to to ensure that their electrical equipment is safe and officially legal to be used.



The IET has been asked by a government agency to look at how other corporate members, in particular large organisations, are approaching Portable Appliance Testing for their staff who continue to work from home.  Therefore, we would be extremely grateful if you would assist our investigation by answering the following questions:



1.  Are you currently working from home? Yes / No


2.  Are you using your firms electronic portable equipment? Yes / No


3.  Has it undergone a Portable Appliance Test? Yes / No / Not Sure

 


a.  Is there a Portable Appliance Testing sticker on the equipment? Yes / No

 


b.  Does the sticker have a Valid Until Date? Yes / No

 


c.  If yes, is the date valid? Yes / No



Use of Personal Electronic Equipment at Home for Work Purpose.



1.  Are you using your personal electronic portable equipment for your firms activities? Yes / No



2.  Has it undergone a Portable Appliance Test? Yes / No



Please do not inform us who you work for.



In anticipation, thank you for your assistance.



Kind regards,



John


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Here is the HSE guidance on PAT for portable appliances. Your employer has a legal requirement to ensure all equipment issued to you for use with business activity is PAT tested according to what it is. Some companies insist on a valid and in date PAT (shown on PAT label) before you can use your equipment on their premises.


    If power cables and other cables look to be frayed or intermittent, check them and replace them as required.
    https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm 


    Advice on what you can and cannot do when on furlough 

     https://www.nelsonslaw.co.uk/employees-furloughed/

  • 0
    I suppose one could be working from a specific non-furloughed agreement while the company was applying  a general furlough. It might also be argued that PAT for certain types of equipment/appliance is necessary for the continued safety of the user. So then If the company was large and there were many items that needed to be checked then it might have been expedient to check all these items when there was nobody around and in no way would have been a danger.  .

    A company windup process or a planned Easter closedown PAT might have been arranged beforehand.......

    Legh
  • 0
    Simon,


    Thank you for your comment.  I am the one who wrote this rubbish.  But thank you for correcting me about furlough, that was my mistake.  


    Kind regards,


    John
  • 0
    I am well out of date on the current legislation regarding workplace safety but in the good old days when the screen display legislation, I forget the exact name, was implemented if you worked from home you needed to be equipped to the same standard as you would in the office.


    I cannot imagine that the current legislation is any more relaxed.


    At the time the legislation required that all workstations be accessed to ensure adequate seating, equipment and lighting. I cannot imagine that giving an employee a portable computer and expecting them to use it on the dining room table would meet any of the criteria. I can imagine that in a few years if adequate workstations are not implemented for home working there will be a raft of claims from employees with bad backs, RSI and poor eyesight. 


    I say all the above while suffering from a bad back, RSI  and poor eyesight but having worked for a whole variety of companies, including being self employed, over the years before the workplace legislation was implemented ,I think I would find it difficult to get any money from anyone. 


    As an aside: with so many people saying home working is more productive and there is no reason for people to return to offices why are so many companies unable to cope with normal business effectively. I do not mean the companies handling goods etc but those offering a service. It recently took me over 20 minutes to register a credit card as lost, if it had been stolen how much could have been spent in that time? My wife tried to register for online banking for a charity she is treasurer of, the first two times, over 30 minutes waiting on the phone each time, she received an email with a reference number and saying her application was being processed. When she chased after a couple of weeks they had not received her application and did not have any record of the reference number. On the third occasion having got the trustees to fill in all the forms she chased again and after 40 minutes was told that they did not do online banking for charities with two signatures required.


  • 0
    KFH,


    Thank you for your reply, you have brought up some interesting points, which has assisted with our evidence gathering.


    Kind regards,


    John
  • 0

    1.  Are you currently working from home? Yes


    2.  Are you using your firms electronic portable equipment?  No

     




    Use of Personal Electronic Equipment at Home for Work Purpose.



    1.  Are you using your personal electronic portable equipment for your firms activities? Yes 



    2.  Has it undergone a Portable Appliance Test?  No. But it does have a visual inspection on first installation, and whenever moved/reconnected. The mains socket, and the extension lead power strip, also has a plug-in test for polarity and earth continuity. The mains supply has an RCD which is tested 6-monthly with the test button. 


  • 0
    Owain,


    Fantastic, thank you.  Just the information we require and it is good to see some self-help testing to reduce any risk.


    Kind regards,


    John
  • 0
    Mapj1 says...
    1.  Are you currently working from home? Yes / No  ABOUT half the time


    2.  Are you using your firms electronic portable equipment? Yes / No Yes.  laptop, PSU dev boards


    3.  Has it undergone a Portable Appliance Test? Yes 

     


    a.  Is there a Portable Appliance Testing sticker on the equipment? Yes / No The laptop PSU has

     


    b.  Does the sticker have a Valid Until Date? Yes / No NO

     


    c.  If yes, is the date valid? Yes / No  N/A



    Use of Personal Electronic Equipment at Home for Work Purpose.



    1.  Are you using your personal electronic portable equipment for your firms activities? Yes / No Yes computer Monitors, hubs ADSL equipment, associated power supplies meter and 'scope



    2.  Has it undergone a Portable Appliance Test? Yes / No  Yes, by me



    Please do not inform us who you work for. That's fine.



    In anticipation, thank you for your assistance.



    Kind regards,



    John




     


  • 0
    Mapj1,


    Thank you for your response.


    kind regards,


    John
  • 0
    Most IT equipment is class ll and operates at ELV so just needs a visual inspection and monitored as used.

    LV leads and any PSUs require inspection and certain tests

    (i) earthing for any class l

    (ii) Insulation resistance test between earth and live shorted to neutral.


    Note: Do you test all your personal IT equipment? No of course you don't. So ask yourself why do you feel it necessary to test this equipment?

    There is, of course, good reason to inspect all borrowed company's equipment while in your own house.

    Legh

Community Rules & Guidelines